The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1887-10-07

mixed. The sand that is washed out
to sea deposits the heavy metal. An
unusually high wind and surf had
plowed up these deposits, separated
them and driven them in on shore, in
time to meet the astonishcd gaze of our
starving party.
Were ever men so placed beforeP
There was gold! Gold enough to buy
palaces, broad acres, luxurics in food
and clothing, pleasures, beyond all
our widest dreams had ever APP
preached! We stood upon it trampled it,
handled it. tasted it, smelled it! Yes, it
was gold! All we had to do was to
stoop and take it! There was no one
to struggle with us for it! No one to
snatch it from us, after we had grasped
it! 1t was gold! Wealth. the idol be-
fore which the world falls PROSTATE in
abject worship! For which IN an often
sacrifices all, that reason tells him, is
most dear, and having gained it, while
he clutches it, cOnfeSses that happiness
has melted away before it!
How it Knocked us! gaunt, travel
soiled, ragged crew! Lying all around
us, in silent comman d. it called upon
us to take the reward for which we had
left home, friends, the comforts of
civilization! How it Knocked us! Our
lettering limbs would not support US;
our trembling hands would not obey
our greedy wills and gather the riches
spread before us!
The excitement of this sudden APP
pearance had reused us, only to react
in greater exhaustion and we were
driven to the acknowledgment that
food must come first, gold afterwards.
We gathered q few handfuls, and
ploded Oh, planning how to come back |
and secure the treasure before others
should find it. This we were conf |
dent we could do, as that part of the |
beach was seldom visited by boats, on
account of the difficulty of approach,
and there was little to attract travel
ers on the landward side. 1t was |
near night when the cabin of the ranch |
came in sight. The owner, well fed |
man, stood in the doorway and took a
leisurely survey.
81 low you air a snug lot =" he said;
your critter, l reckon. come in, N |
lowed there be some caved in strangers |
follerin'."
The ranchman's bluntncss was for |
gotten when he led us into the one |
room of the cabin and babe us ''sit
down and fall to- Our supper of
smoking beef-steak, eggs, bot biscuit
and coffee dispatched, we wrapped |
ourselves in our blankets, and, with /
the sky for roof, slept soundly. In
the morning. having gratefully refused
the invitation to "stay by till ser
kinder coopered up" after n breakfast
as substantial as the supper, we started
for San Francisco.
Wcused our gold dust freely, for our
one thought was to keep our secret till
we could hurry back and secure the
prize. Lest we might attract the no
tice of gold hunters, as eager as our
selves, we agreed to separate into two
parties, and deposit our dust in two
banks. Pat, who stood quite in awe
of Standish's business education and
quickness at figures. declared that he
would "howld on till what Msther
Sthandish agreed"
joe imperfect knowledge Of the Ian
cUage induced him TO trust Standish al
so. We appointed place of rendez-
vous, and Standish went with Harry
to prospect for small vessel to take
us back to the gold beach. l took 1t
upon myself TO keep an eye on Pat and
Joe, for / feared that in that Babel,
San Francisco. they might meet COM
patriots, be thrown of their guard and
become confidential.
Standish found that strangers in the
city could not, Immediately command
he facilities we needed, and with Har-
,y's consent, decided to ask the advice
,f business acquaintance Of his book
leeping days. As the assayer had pro-
bounced our specim sns half pure COLO.
Standish's friend promptly proposed
he formation Of u company and prom
sed TO pllsh lie interests. Papers were
irawn up. and the next morning our
party 81 live young men, comfortably
almost forgetting our recent
prlyatlons and exmting In the prospect